Here are some updates on recent progress toward campus re-entry.
Since reopening, nine cases of COVID-19 were reported by our campus community. Of those cases, eight of the nine are students who are registered for online classes only, none of them are residents of Dolphin Cove. One of the reported cases is a staff member, who works 100% remotely. Of the nine cases, one hospitalization was reported.
Yesterday, Governor Cuomo identified 124 hot spots of current COVID-19 activity in New York City. CSI’s zip code was not listed, but 10304 and 10306, both adjacent to campus to the east, were on the list. Thus, the threat of coronavirus infection remains serious, and the campus could face closure for two weeks if the number of active cases – on campus – were to exceed 34 at any time within a 14 day period.
The campus remains in phase one of our re-entry plan. We have successfully planned for the sessions for the DPT to continue to take place on campus, and hope to soon bring both 5N and 5S back into use. We are on track for the nursing students that require in-person learning to start classes later in October. We have also worked with Media Culture to facilitate small groups of their Cinema 314 students to shoot their film projects outside on campus. Dan McCloskey recently sent a message to the chairs and faculty that have courses listed in the Catalog as hybrid to assess their current needs for some on-campus pedagogy.
The Everbridge application is now required as a screening mechanism for anyone approved to enter campus. It can be downloaded on either an iPhone or an Android, and links as well as instructions on its use are found online. The app must be used before approaching the gate for campus entry.
As of now, the Provost’s Office and Campus Planning, Facilities, and Operations have approved 23 Site Safety Protocols for campus research labs, and we currently have 15 faculty, student, and staff researchers coming to campus daily, with plans to increase that number soon.
The co-chairs of the Campus Re-entry Committee will be meeting on Friday, Oct. 16 to plan next steps.
By the Division of Academic Affairs
